Violin music floated through the Hayes mansion as the party hit its stride. The boring speeches were done, and guests had broken, into their usual groups across the ballroom. Servers glided around with drinks and cleared empty plates. 

Doctors clustered by the windows talking shop, while business types packed the bar area trading market gossip. A couple rounds of drinks had cranked up the volume, with laughter echoing through the room. 

Adam spotted Matthew across the room immediately–the same man he’d seen outside Emerald Garden with Irene. Back then, they’d been strangers. Now, with the landscape shifted between them, something unnamed stirred beneath Adam’s calm exterior. 

Matthew approached, his smile calculated. “Mr. Haven. Didn’t expect to see you here.” 

“That’s what happens when Hayes sends Haven an invitation,” Adam eplied, his smile not reaching his eyes. 

Adam tilted his head slightly. “Though I admit I’m surprised. The rising medical star turns out to be Hayes family. Should I call you Dr. Hayes now?” 

Something electric sparked between them, invisible but unmistakable. 

Old Edward spotted them and ambled over, his face lighting up. “You two know each other?” His voice carried the pleased tone of someone discovering an unexpected connection. 

Adam shifted in his chair. “We’ve met, though I wasn’t aware he was Hayes family.” 

Matthew nodded. “And I hadn’t realized you were the Haven Enterprise CEO everyone whispers about.” 

Edward beamed, completely missing the undertow. 

Matthew leaned forward slightly. “I should thank you, by the way. Irene and the kids mentioned how helpful you’ve been since they got back. I’ll have to find some way to show my appreciation.” 

The casual reference landed perfectly. Adam felt something tighten in his chest at Matthew’s easy familiarity with Irene and the triplets. 

“Don’t bother,” Adam replied coolly. “Considering I eat her cooking almost daily, looking after her is just what neighbors do.” 

The deliberate ambiguity hung between them. 

Matthew’s hand tightened at his side, though his face remained composed. The room seemed to fade as both men sized each other up, an invisible line drawn between them. 

Across the room, Irene stood trapped in Samantha’s orbit, wondering how she’d gotten cornered so efficiently. After Adam had torpedoed the Wright partnership, she’d expected open hostility, not this sugar–coated venom. 

“So where exactly did you practice before coming home?” Samantha asked, her hand resting on Irene’s arm with fake warmth. 

“R Country,” Irene answered simply, watching Samantha brighten at the information like she’d confirmed a suspicion. 

What a coincidence Samantha’s voice lifted with manufactured excitement. “Hayes worked in that region too. His track record is incredible–journal awards, breakthrough cases, labeled a prodigy… she tilted her head with fake innocence. “You must have heard 

of him?” 

Irene’s lips curved slightly. “Of course. Over there, everyone knows Hayes and his work.” 

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Something flickered in Samantha’s eyes–realization that her trap mht backfire, 

“As fellow professionals, I could introduce you,” Samantha offered, superiority dripping from every word. “For someone with your… background, connections like that could open doors.” 

Irene nearly laughed. “That won’t be necessary.” 

“Don’t be modest,” Samantha insisted. “It’s no trouble at all.” 

Irene could practically hear Samantha’s thoughts: Fast food worker’s daughter playing doctor needs to learn her place. She’ll never fit in Adam’s world. 

The snobbery was so obvious Irene couldn’t even pretend not to note. Her patience with this charade was wearing dangerously thin when movement caught her eye. 

Matthew was walking toward them, his face brightening when he spotted her. 

“There you are! Been looking everywhere,” he called, his warmth cutting through the artificial atmosphere. “Thought you’d ditched me.” 

Irene smiled back easily. “As if. When have I ever stood you up?” 

Their easy back–and–forth seemed to freeze Samantha in place, her face shifting from smug to stunned right before their eyes. 

“You… know each other?” Samantha’s voice cracked slightly. 

Matthew stepped closer to Irene. “Of course. We go way back.” 

The look Irene gave Samantha carried just a hint of satisfaction as Samantha’s complexion cycled through several fascinating colors. 

“You should have said something!” Samantha recovered quickly, forcing a laugh. “Here I am offering to introduce you like some clueless idiot. How embarrassing.” 

Her quick recovery impressed even Irene. Samantha had owned her mistake while making herself look humble instead of foolish–a slick move that showed years of practice in these circles. 

Irene glanced away, noting how skillfully Samantha had defused what could have been a mortifying moment. Smart play, she thought. Now nobody can call her out. 

Behind Samantha’s smile, Irene could almost see the fury building. How is this possible? Samantha had to be thinking. checked- there’s no Sterling doctor with any reputation abroad. Her name doesn’t even show up anywhere. Yet she knows Matthew Hayes personally? 

Matthew touched Irene’s elbow lightly. “Meet my grandfather. He’s been bugging me about introducing you.” 

He guided her toward Edward, who perked up instantly when he spotted them. 

“So you’re the Sterling doctor my grandson won’t shut up about!” Edward’s voice boomed as he clapped Matthew’s shoulder. ‘About 

time! 

Irene returned his me. “Pleasure’s mine.” 

Edward studied her, then glanced at his grandson, his approval obvious. “Too modest! A young doctor outshining even this disappointing grandson of mine. I’m not just being polite, you know 

Irene’s eyes crinkled at Edward’s playful jab. She could see where Matthew got his directness–though his came with more filters 

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Chapter 187 

than his grandfather’s. 

From several feet away, Samantha watched in disbelief. Edward Haye medical pioneer and Silver City kingmaker–treating this nobody like she belongs ? 

Irene maintained her composure, neither gushing nor acting overly miliar. She remained poised, answering questions thoughtfully while deflecting excessive praise. 

After chatting a few minutes, Edward squeezed Irene’s shoulder. “Me people to say hi to, We’ll talk more later. Matthew, don’t mess this up!” 

As Edward moved away, Matthew leaned closer. “Let me show you archid. This place gets overwhelming even for family.” 

“Lead the way,” Irene agreed, ready for a break from the social theater. 

They slipped away from the main hall, heading toward the gardens. Neither noticed the pair of eyes following their exit. 

From across the room, Adam tracked their exit, his thumb wearing an invisible groove into his wheelchair’s armrest. His poker face held, but that persistent tap–tap–tap told Thomas everything. 

Thomas, ever–vigilant, caught his boss’s reaction and quietly stepped back, giving Adam space. 

Adam fotated his chair away, moving in the opposite direction. His mind had already checked out, weighing whether to make his exit or follow their path. 

Just before they disappeared, Matthew glanced back. His eyes met Adam’s across the crowded room, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Neither man looked away first–a standoff in their unspoken contest. 

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